Coach Chesswick
Hi Ashish Vaja!
First, congratulations on the steady effort you put into your daily-time-control games. Your current personal best is 2157 (2014-11-01), and your recent win against magnus1996 shows that you can hold your own against higher-rated opposition when the clock cooperates.
What you already do well
- Positional awareness: Choosing solid systems such as the Catalan and the Nimzo-Larsen indicates an eye for long-term, piece-activity-based play.
- Piece development discipline: In the position below you
had all minor pieces developed and the king ready to castle while Black
was still untangling. That is good opening hygiene.
- Good tournament selection: You enter thematic events that force you to study specific openings – an excellent way to deepen repertoire knowledge.
Largest improvement opportunities
- Clock management: All six of your most recent losses
were on time. Even in daily chess, you need a routine.
• Set one or two fixed “chess check-in” times each day.
• Use move reminders on your phone.
• When a position is complicated, jot down candidate moves in a notebook so you can resume quickly next session. - A clear response to 1.e4 & 1.d4: In several games
you answered 1.e4/1.d4 with nothing (and lost on time). Pick one defence
you enjoy and memorize the first 6 moves. For example:
• vs 1.e4: Classical Caro-Kann (less theory than Sicilian).
• vs 1.d4: Queen’s Gambit Declined or the flexible King's Indian. - Tactical sharpness: Your positional style is solid, but converting advantages still requires tactics. Spend 10–15 minutes daily on pattern-recognition puzzles (forks, pins, back-rank motifs).
- Endgame basics: In long games your advantage often lasts into simplified positions. Make sure you are fully confident in king-and-pawn fundamentals, the Lucena & Philidor rook endings, and basic minor-piece mates.
Two-week action plan
- Days 1-3: Review all games you lost on time. Identify the last move you played quickly; note where thinking time ballooned.
- Days 4-6: Pick a single defence to 1.e4 and 1.d4. Create a mini-file with your first 10 moves and typical plans.
- Days 7-10: 100 tactical exercises (≈25/day). Focus on double-attacks and discovered attacks.
- Days 11-14: Play five 15 | 10 rapid games to practise openings & clock discipline. Annotate one critical moment per game.
Keep score of your growth
Use the charts below to see when you play (and win) most often. If your time-out losses cluster around busy work hours, adjust your move routine.
Final thought
Your strategic foundation is already solid; polishing time-management and sharpening tactics will let that foundation shine. Stay consistent, review every finished game (even those decided by the clock), and keep enjoying the journey. Good luck!